Door lock



E. T. ZOOK DOOR LOCK Dec. 15, 1964 Filed NOV. 1, 1963 INVENTOR. EIZLE T Zoc ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,161,428 DOOR LOCK Erie T. Zook, 601 N. 4th St., Las Vegas, Nev. Filed Nov. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 320,733 1 Claim. (Cl. 292-292) This invention relates to removable door locking devices wherein one of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a locking element insertable between a door jamb and an adjacent side of a door whereby the door is releasably secured against movement toward its open position.

A further object of this invention is to provide locking means for doors of the type generally referred to supra, wherein a locking member is inserted between the door jamb and door frame in such a manner as to be engageable at one of its ends within a latch plate and wherein the other end of the locking member is provided with means to receive a removable locking element, the arrangement being such that the latch plate, locking element and the removable locking element, when in their respective operative position, releasably retain the door in its closed position. 1

It is still another object of this invention to provide a locking device of the type generally described above, wherein all of the elements with the exception of the latch plate are held inseparable by flexible means, whereby it is assured that there will be no separation and loss of these individual elements;

This invention contemplates, as a further object thereof, the provision of a door lock of the type generally described which is of simple construction, non-complexin construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which is durable and eflicien-t in use.

Other and further objects and adavntages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a door lock constructed in accordance with this invention, the lock being shown as installed in its operative position;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 2 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the door lock, FIGURE 3 being partly in cross-section and being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the releasable locking means.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral It) designates a conventional door jamb to the outer face of which is secured the conventional trim strip 12. A molding strip door stop of conventional type is indicated at 14. At 16 is designated a conventional door hinged at one of its sides for swinging movement toward the stop 14 when in its closed position, and movable away therefrom to its open position. This is all conventional construction.

To practice the instant invention, the door jamb is provided with an inwardly-extending substantially rectangular recess 18 which normally confronts the door frame 16 when the door is in its closed position. Extending across the recess 18 is a substantially rectangular latch plate 20 fixedly secured to the door jamb 10 as by screws 22. The latch plate 20 is provided with a transversely-extending opening 23 which is aligned with the recess 18. The latch plate 20 terminates in an arcuate outer striking tongue 24.

The locking element constructed in accordance with this invention comprises an elongated substantially flat rectangular member 26 having a struck portion 28 projecting laterally from a side thereof which includes a wall 30 disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the locking element 26. The other end of the locking element is provided with an elongated substantially rectangular slot 32 which extends perpendicular to the plane of the wall 30. The aforementioned other end of the locking element 26 is connected at 34 by conventional means to one end of an elongated flexible chain 36.

Reference numereal 38 indicates an L-shaped channel member of which the leg portion 38A has a greater longitudinal length than the foot portion 38B. The portion 38A includes top and bottom walls 40, 42 connected by a bight wall 44. As seen in the drawing, the bight wall 44 is provided with a transversely-extending substantially rectangular opening 46. The outer end of the portion 38A has inserted therein a substantially rectangular block 48 which may be formed of a soft plastic or of rubber or of any other similar material. As is seen in the figures, the block 48 is mounted between and abuts against the top and bottom walls 40, 42, respectively, with the inner face 48A thereof abutting the bight wall 44, and with the outer face 488 thereof projecting beyond the free edges of the top and bottom walls 40, 42 to serve a function to be described.

The outer end of the portion 38B terminates in an end wall 59 which extends perpendicular to the bight wall 44 and to the top and bottom walls 40, 42, respectively.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a substantially triangularly-shaped releasable locking member including a main body portion 54 and from the base end of which laterally projects a flange 56. The flange 56 is centrally-apertured as at 58. As is seen in the several figures, the flexible chain 36 extends through the opening 46 in the bight wall 44 and connects at its other end with a ring 60 which is engaged Within the aperture 58. In this manner, the locking element 26, the L-shaped channel member 33 and the releasable locking member 52 are loosely connected together as a unit and in such manner as to preclude any possibility that one or more parts of the unit may become lost.

From a consideration of the drawing and the above description, it is believed that the operation of the door lock is self-evident, but a brief description thereof is of fered below.

Assuming that the component elements of the door lock are in the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, that is,

the door frame 16 being swung to its closed position and the elements of the door lock being illustrated in their respective operative positions, it is seen that the door frame 16 cannot be swung to its open position. To release the door, the operator first removes the releasable locking member 52 from the slot 32, thereby permitting the L-shaped channel member 38 to be drawn over the locking element 26 until the same passes over the outer end thereof. The door frame 16 may now be swung to its open position in the conventional manner, after which the locking element 26 may be removed from the latch plate 20 by effecting disengagement of the struck portion 28 from the aperture 23. More specifically, the wall 30 is caused to become disengaged from its connection with the marginal edge of the aperture 23. The door frame 16 is now free to be opened and closed in the usual and conventional manner.

To again establish the door lock in its operative posi tion, it is only necessary that the door frame 16 be swung to its open position, thereby exposing the latch plate 20 and the aperture or opening 23. The locking element 26 is now imposed against the latch plate 20 with the struck portion 23 engaging within the aperture 23 and with the wall 30 engaging the marginal edge of the recess 18. The L-shaped channel member 38 is now engaged on the locking element 26 by passing the L-shaped member 38 thereover with the locking element 26 extending through the rectangular opening 46. As is seen in the drawing, the locking element 26 is of such length as to permit it to extend beyond the door trim strip 12, and the block of fiexible material 48 is engaged against the trim strip 12. The purpose of the block 48 is, of course, to prevent marring of the trim strip 12. At the same time, the end wall 50 engages against the door frame 16. Thereafter, the releasable locking member is passed through the slot 32, and by virtue of its triangular construction, the main body portion 54 of the locking member 52 wedges against the top and bottom walls 40, 42 of the portion 38A to firmly establish the locking action.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

hat is claimed is:

A door lock for a hingedly-supported door frame having an edge thereof normally confronting a jamb therefor when said door frame is in its closed position, said .jamb having a trim strip connected thereto, said jamb having a substantially rectangular recess extending inwardly thereof and confronting an adjacent edge of said door frame when said door frame is in its closed position, a latch plate fixedly secured to said jamb and having a substantially rectangular aperture extending transversely therethrough and confronting said recess, an elongated substantially rectangular latching element having a wall projecting laterally therefrom adjacent one of its ends, said Wall being substantially perpendicular to said latching element, said latching element being interposed between said edge of said door frame and said latch plate with said wall engaging a marginal edge of said latch plate aperture, the other end of said latching element projecting beyond a side of said door frame, the adjacent side of said jamb and the adjacent side of said trim strip, an L-shaped member having an elongated leg portion and an integrally-connected foot portion, said L-shaped member including a bight wall and a top and bottom wall projecting laterally therefrom in vertically-spaced relationship, said bight wall of said leg portion having a normally horizontal aperture extending transversely therethrough to receive said other end of said latching element therein, the bight wall of said foot portion terminating in an end wall extending perpendicularly with respect to its associated bight wall and top and bottom walls, said end wall abutting against a side of said door frame, the outer free end of said leg portion including a substantially rectangular block of resilient material secured between said top and bottom walls and having a side thereof engaging against adjacent portion of said bight wall, said block of resilient material having a side thereof oppositely-disposed with respect to said first side projecting laterally beyond the free edges of said top and bottom walls, said other end of said latching element having an aperture extending transversely therethrough, and wedge means extending transversely through said last-named aperture, said wedge means comprising a substantially triangular locking element extendable through said aperture for engagement with said top and bottom walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,166,692 1/16 Kennedy 292292 1,671,454 5/28 Stoutenburgh 292289 FOREIGN PATENTS 11 ,776 1893 Great Britain. ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner,

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Examiner. 

